SEVEN PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF DEPRESSION

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Depression is defined as feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that accumulate over time. There are seven psychological perspectives: neuroscience, evolutionary, behavioral genetics, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and social-cultural. These seven psychological perspectives can be combined or used independently to form a better understanding of depression. The neuroscience perspective of psychology is described as the use of science to learn about the detailed functions of the nervous system and the brain, specifically how they relate to human behavior. Low serotonin levels in the brain are shown to be the main cause of depression. These low serotonin levels can be caused by lazy neurons in the brain that fail to send off signals to cue the release of serotonin. The evolutionary perspective of psychology states that changes in human behavior over time can be attributed to constant adaptations made by ancestors to deal with the recurring problems that they faced. By using the evolutionary perspective of psychology, depression can be explained as a protection mechanism used by individuals to prevent further pain which ancestors have felt in the past. This can also be attributed to individuals overthinking and having stronger emotional ties to situations. This added stress can easily cause a person to become depressed. From the evolutionary perspective of psychology it can be inferred that depression is a needed adaptation that should not be tampered with. The behavioral genetics perspective of psychology explores the role that genetics plays in human behavioral patterns and characteristics. Recurring episodes of depression are normally caused by genetic factors and not external situations. Overall, it is shown that pe... ... middle of paper ... ...r-5261597.html Secher, K., & Gjedde, A. (2013, May 12). Cause of Depression Still Eludes Us, Says Neuroscientist. Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://sciencenordic.com/cause-depression-still-eludes-us-says-neuroscientist Seeing Depression Differently. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://www.studentsagainstdepression.org/understand-depression/debating-depression/seeing-depression-differently/ Society for Neuroscience, Hodes, G., Mineur, Y., Scott, K., Felix-Ortiz, A., Paz, R., & Monteggia, L. (2013, November 11). Depression Press Conference. Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://www.sfn.org/Press-Room/News-Release-Archives/2013/Depression-Press-Conference WebMD, & American Psychologist Journal (2012). Psychodynamic Therapy for Depression. Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/psychodynamic-therapy-for-depression

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